Automatic releasable slider



A. E. CARLLE AUTOMATIC RELEASABLE SLIDER Jan. 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet lFiled June 24, 1955 Jan.` 18, 1955 A. E. cARLrLE 2,699,588

AUTOMATIC RELEASABLE SLIDER Filed June 24, 1953 y 2 Sheets-Shee't/Z i E.7 fi .5. 7 zz? *'20* 5 Mg@ gti 75.5

United States Patenti() M AUTOMATIC RELEASABLE SLIDER Alfred E. Carlile,Meadville, Pa., assignor to Talon, Inc., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication `lune 24, 1953, Serial No. 363,710

9 Claims. (Cl. 24-205.14)

This invention relates to sliders for slide fasteners of the so-calledreleasable type having means incorporated therewith for permittingselective spacing of the slider wings relative to one another, andparticularly, to an improvement in or modification of the inventiondescribed and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 349,914,filed April 20, 1953.

The present invention consists in an improved construction of the slidershown in the above identified application so as to provide an automaticlocking arrangement on the slider for locking the slider at any pointalong the fastener elements as well as a releasable arrangement for thewings of the slider so that the slider wings may be selectively spaced apredetermined spaced distance apart in order to facilitate the freeingof the sliders from clothing or other foreign materials whenaccidentally caught therein, which sometimes happens upon longitudinalmovement of the slider along` the fastener elements to engage anddisengage the same.

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide anautomatic lock slider for slide fasteners of the releasable type whichis strong, rugged and compact in its construction, with the parts beingso constructed and arranged that they can be conveniently fabricated andassembled.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedreleasable automatic lock slider and having means arranged therewith topermit the slider wings to be spaced a predetermined distance apart and,at the same time, having means to lock automatically and effectively theslider at any point along the fastener.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improvedreleasable slider having a latch member arranged therewith which isactuated manually against the action of a biasing means to effectautomatic spreading of the slider wings to a predetermined desiredrelative spacing so as to loosen the slider upon the fastener elementsand having also a locking member pivotally attached thereto which isurged to its locked position by the latch member which engages therewithand the biasing means when the latch member is disposed in its normalposition.

It is another object of this invention to provide a slider having alocking member arranged therewith for locking the slider againstunintentional movement and manual means such as a latch member forpermitting relative planar separation of the wings so as to define atleast two positive spread positions or spacings, which positions orspacings are assumed automatically upon manual operation of theaforesaid latch member and which latch member is automatically returnedto its normal position together with said wings by a biasing means whichalso functions to urge the locking member to its locked position.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide aslider having a locking member arranged therewith, and a latch memberfor permitting the slider wings to be spaced apart in at least twopredetermined selected positions with biasing means arranged with thelatch member tending to urge and maintain the latch member in its normalposition and to urge the locking member toward its locked position witha pull member attached to the locking member for actuating the same whenthe slider is manipulated to open and close the fastener and to actuatethe latch member to permit the wings to be 2,699,588 Patented Jan. 18,1955 spaced apart when disposed in one of its extreme positionssubstantially parallel to the slider wings.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be moreapparent in the course of the following specification, and will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose ofillustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a slide fastener havingthe improved slider of my invention incorporated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the fastener as shown in 7, partly in sectionand partly broken away to facilitate illustration, 4showing the lockingmember in its locked position;

Fig. 3 is a side view similar to Fig. 2 showing the locking member inits unlocked position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side view, partly broken away, of the improved slider of thepresent invention showing the slider wings and parts in their normaloperating positions;

Fig. 6 is a side View, similar to Fig. 5, showing the slider parts inposition to effect spreading of the wings to a predetermined spacedposition;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the slider body with both latch and lockingmembers removed therefrom;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the latch member; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the locking member.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved slider of myinvention is shown incorporated with a conventional type slide fastenerwhich consists of a pair of Stringer tapes 50 having a series ofspaced-apart interlocking fastener elements 51 arranged along theiropposed edges with the slider arranged thereon for longitudinal movementtherealong for engaging and disengaging the fastener elements in awell-known manner.

The slider, in accordance with the present invention, consists generallyof overlying spaced-apart upper and lower wings 2 and 3, respectively,having inwardly extending guide flange portions 4 along their marginaledges and connected at one end thereof by a neck portion 5 so as toprovide substantially a Y-shaped channel between the wings into andthrough which the fastener elements 51 of the slide fastener pass whenthe slider is moved therealong for engaging and disengaging the same.

The connecting neck portion 5 comprises an inwardly extending stud-likeportion 6 arranged integrally with and centrally of the upper or topwing 2 at the upper end thereof. At the upper end of the opposed orlower Wing 3, there is arranged integrally therewith and centrallythereof, a larger inwardly extending portion 7 having a socket or recess8 therein conforming substantially to the stud-like portion 6 of thewing 2 and in which it is telescopically disposed for a purposehereinafter to be described. Both the stud-like portion 6 and the socket8 with which it co-operates are preferably polygonal-shaped so as toprovide a key-like arrangement for preventing rotative movement of thetwo wings Z and 3 relative to one another.

In the socket portion 7 of the wing 3, there is arranged in a recess 9therein, a movable latch member 10 having its inner end pivotallyattached to the lower wing 3, as at 12. This latch member 10 extends upthrough an aperture 13 in the upper wing 2 and on the extreme outer endthereof there is arranged a transversely extending enlarged head portion14 which is disposed beyond the outer surface of the upper wing 2.

This enlarged head portion 14 preferably has side portions extendingtransversely to either side of the aperture 13 on the outer side of thewing 2. On the lower side of each of these side portions there isarranged a cam-like portion 15 which co-operates with a pair of recessesor grooves 16 and 17 arranged in side-by-side relation in the uppersurface of the wing 2 to either side of the grooves 16 are shallowerthan, the outer grooves 17. The inner side of the head portion 14 haspreferably an inclined. r beveled. cam, surfaseas at 18.l

In a yslot 19 arranged continuously around the outer edges and bottomlof the latch` member 10,v there is arranged ak biasingy member in theAform of a substantially lll-shaped springmember 2.0` having its innerend staked therein, as at 21, as more clearly shown in Figs. and 6. Theopposite end ofrthisspring member 20bearsagainst the inner rear wall offthe aperture 13` inthe wing 2, as at 22.

On the outer side of the upper wing 2, centrally there of, andat aspacedydistance from the aperture 13 therein, there is arrangedA a lugportionZS'to which Vthere is pivotally attached, as at 26, an elongatedcap-like locking member 27, whiclrisk Vshown in detail in Fig. 9. Thislocking member has a top wall side, walls 28 and a rear and front,Vwalls 29'- and 30, respectively. vThere is also provided a rearwardlyextending beveled or tapered portion 31 which normally rests on andcooperates with the inclined or beveled surface 1'8'of the latchmember10 for av purpose hereinafter to be described. There is integrallyarranged with one of the side walls 28 of the locking member 27forwardly thereof, a locking prong portion 32 which extends into andthrough an aperture 33 in the lower end of the slider and into thechannel of the slider for engagement with andV between the fastenerelements to lock the slider in a well known manner. The forward wall 30of this locking member 27 terminates in an inturned portion 34 which isadapted to engage a shoulder 35 arranged on a lug 36 which is positionedadjacent the lower end` of the wing'v 2 for limiting the outwardmovement ofthe locking member when the slider is manipulated to open andclose the fastener, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3.

There is provided a pull member 37 having a trunnion portion 38 which isdisposed in the space between the lugs'25- and 36 and under the lockingmember 27 and extends out through openings 39 in the side walls28thereofn so as to be pivotally attached tothe slider body. At a spaceddistance from this trunnion portion 38 in the pull' member 37, there isarrangedtherein preferably a rectangular-shaped recess 40,l so as toprovide an inner camming wall portion 41 for a purpose hereinafter to bedescribed.

It will be understood that when the wings 2 andl 3 are intheir normalspaced-apart operating positions that` the cam portionsvlS oftheenlarged head portion 14 of the latch member are seated in the shallowor inner grooves 16 on the outersurface of the wing 2, as shown in Figs.l, 2, and-5 ofthe drawings. In such position, it will be seen thattherearwardly extending'tapered or beveled portion 31 of the locking member27 rests, as at 45, on the inclined or beveled portion' 18 of theenlargedfhead portion 14.0f the latch member 10. Inl other words, thisbeveled portion l8-of the latch member extends inunder the rear wall 29vof the locking member 27 and engages with the rearwardlyextending-tapered portion 31 thereof.

When the latch member ism itsnormalposition, it willk be understood thatit is urged'to and maintained insuch position by the spring member andin turn the lockingmember 27, due to its engagement with the latch.member, isurged toward its locked position with the locking prong 32thereof projecting into the channel of the slider into engagement withthe fastener elements 51 therein so as to lock the slider againstunintentional movement, as more clearly shown .in Figs. ,2 and 4 of thedrawings.

Having described the construction ofV my improved slider, it functionsin the .following manner:

When the slider is manipulated to open and close the fastener by meansvof, the pull member 37 it will be seen that the locking member 27 ismoved about itsV pivotalv connection 26 whereby the locking projection32, on the opposite Vend is moved out of the sliderchannel and out ofengagement with the fastener elements 51 therein so as` to permit theslider to move freelyv alongthe fastenerelements, as clearly shown. inFig. 3. In such pivotal movement of the locking member, it willbe seenthat the inclined rearwardly extending` portion. 31 thereof which bearsagainst the inclined cam surfaceA 18V ofthe latch member andmoves thesame slightly about the pivotal connection 1,2 againstthe actionof thespring member 20. Whenlthe pullmember 37 is ,relea,se d, it will beunderstcodthat the locking member 27 is moved automatically about thepivotal connection 26 due to the action of the spring member 20 and thelatch member 10 so as to again position the locking projection 32 in theslider channel and in engagement with the fastener elements 51 therein.

When it is desired to release the slider wings, that is, spread the samein case any material or other foreign objects are caught between thewings and the fastener elements, the slider parts function in thefollowing manner.

It will be assumedthat thewings- 2- and 3 are lin their normalspaced-apart operating positions with the cam portions 15 of theenlarged head portion 14 of the latch member 10 positioned' andV seatedinthe shallow or inner grooves 16. on the outer surface of theA wing 2asshown in Figs. l, 2 and 5 of the drawings, so as to prevent normally thewings fromI moving apart. To release the wings, the pull member 37 ismoved to its uppermost position about its pivotal connection with thelug 13 so that the inner edge, of the wall portion 41 formed by therecess 40 in the pull member rests on the inclined' or beveled surface1,8 of the enlargedheadv portion 14` of the latch member 10. The pullmember is then moved'further toward parallelism with the slider wings,as shown in Fig.- 6, andv in so doing, the latch member 10is moved aboutits pivotal connection 12A dueto the camming action of the wall portion41 on the inclined or beveled surface 18V of the enlarged' head portion14. In such movement it will be seen that the enlarged head portion 14'ywilll be moved upwardly with the cam-like portion 15 carried therebypositioned and seated in the other grooves 17 so as to permit the sliderwings 2 and 3 tomove a slight distance apart, as shown in Fig; 6 of thedrawings. Also, in such movement it will1be: seenY that4 thelatch member10 is moved againstthe action` of the spring member 20. The caughtmaterial or other foreignA Objectis then removedfromv between the wings.Upon such removal the wings will be movedautomatically to theirnormalspaced relation due to the action .of this spring-member 20. That is,the latchA memberVA 1-0 will bemovedaboutitspivotal connec'tion` at1-2,l so as'toagain position the Vcam-like portions 15v ofthe enlargedheady portion 14 -in the innery grooves 16,' therebyforcingtogether andpositioning'the wingsv in theirl normal spacedVV relation, as moreclearly shown in Figs. l, 2 and 5, without the necessity of actuatingthe latch member manually.-

It will be understood that the respective depths ofthe grooves16 and 17are such that the wings are permitted to move apart only afewthousandths of an inch and not enough to permit -the slider to beremovedor displaced from the fastener chain. In-other words, the wings arepermitted to be moved apart-only sufficiently to free the caughtmaterial andV if the wings are not fully closed whentheslider isV freethe slider willstill function toopen and closeA the fastener withoutdanger of the fastener elements opening up behindrthe slider.

As a-result of` my invention, it will be seen that there is providedanew and'novel slider. havingia latch member forfreleasing the-wings.anda locking member with a common biasing means. which automatically andconstantly urges andmantains the latch memberin position so as toposition the wings in their proper distance apart and normally urges thelocking member to itslockedposition. lt-will also be seen that theslider cannot becomeaccidentally displaced'from the'fastener chain inthat theV movement of. thewings-relative to one anotherv isV limited toa predetermined distance and that the slider will function to close thefastener, not only when the wings are in their normal spaced relationbutalso when the wings are released or slightly spreadthereby'eliminating any dangerv said wings in a direction'substantiallynormal thereto com.

prisingfan inwardly, extending stud-like portion carried by 011eOfISaidewiugSnd afsocketfportion-carried-.bythe other of said wings withwhich stud-like portion engages, and a, movable latch member positionedin openings in said wings adjacent said stud-like and socket portions,said latch member disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular tosaid wings and having means carried thereby which cooperates with meanscarried by said wings for maintaining the same normally in spacedparallel operating relation but permitting them to move apart when saidlatch member is actuated so as to assume another parallel positionhaving a predetermined space therebetween, said latch member having afree end portion extending upwardly beyond the outer surface of one ofsaid wings, biasing means arranged with the said latch member for urgingand maintaining said latch member in position so that said wings are intheir proper normal operating position, said last-mentioned wing havinga locking prong receiving aperture communicating with said channel, alug projecting outwardly from said last-mentioned wing, a locking memberpivotally connected adjacent one end to said lug and having a lockingprong extensible through said aperture into and out of said channel uponpivotal movement of said locking member, said locking member having aportion extending beyond said lug to a point adjacent the free endportion of said latch member and engageable therewith, said latch membertogether with said biasing means acting on the extending portion of saidlatch member for normally urging the same toward its locked positionwherein said locking prong is projected into said channel.

2. A slider for slide fasteners, as defined in claim l, including a pullmember operatively connected to said locking member for manually movingsaid locking member to unlocked position against the force exerted bysaid biasing means.

3. A slider for slide fasteners, as defined in claim 2, including meanscarried by said pull member co-operating with the free portion of saidlatch member for actuating said latch member when said pull member isdisposed in one of its extreme positions substantially parallel to saidslider wings whereby the wings will be permitted to move apart from oneanother to said second-mentioned predetermined spaced operatingposition.

4. A slider for slide fasteners, as dened in claim l, including aninclined cam surface arranged on the free end portion of said latchmember which is disposed oppo site the extending portion of said lockingmember and which is engageable therewith.

5. A slider for slide fasteners, as dened in claim 3, including aninclined cam surface arranged on the free end portion of said latchmember which is disposed oppo site the extending portion of said lockingmember and which is engageable therewith, said means carried by saidpull member adapted to engage and cooperate with said cam surface toactuate said latch member when said pull member is disposed in one ofits extreme positions substantially parallel to said slider wings.

6. A slider for slide fasteners of the class described comprisingoverlying spaced wings, means detachably connecting said wings togetherat one end thereof, said connecting means including an inwardlyextending portion carried by one of said wings which co-operates withand engages a corresponding inwardly extending portion carried by theother of said wings so as to provide substan tially a Y-shaped channelbetween said wings, a movable latch member pivotally attached to one ofsaid wings adjacent said interengaging portions, said latch memberarranged in a recess in one of said wings and extending up through arecess in the other of said wings having its free end disposed above thesurface of Said last-mentioned wing, said free end of said latch memberhaving means carried thereby co-operating with the outer surface of saidlast-mentioned wing for maintaining said wings in their proper spacedoperating relation and for permitting said wings to be moved apart toanother predetermined spaced position, biasing means arranged with saidlatch member for urging and maintaining said latch member in position sothat said wings are in their proper spaced normal operating position,said last-mentioned wing having a locking prong receiving aperturecommunicating with said channel, a lug projecting outwardly from saidlast-men tioned wing, a locking member pivotally connected adjacent oneend to said lug and having a locking prong extensible through saidaperture into and out of said channel upon pivotal movement of saidlocking member, said locking member having a portion extending beyondsaid lng to a point adjacent the free end of said latch member andengageable therewith, said latch member together with said biasing meansacting on said extending portion of said locking member for normallyurging thc same toward its locked position wherein said locking prong isprojected into said channel.

7. A slider for slide fasteners, as defined in claim 6, including a pullmember operatively connected to said locking member for manually movingsaid locking member to unlocked position and for actuating said latchmember against the action of said biasing means.

8. A slider for slide fasteners of the class described comprisingoverlying spaced-apart wings, and means detachably connecting said wingstogether at one end thereof and providing substantially parallel planarseparation of said wings in a direction substantially normal theretocomprising an inwardly extending portion carried by one of said wingswhich co-operates with and engages a corresponding inwardly projectingportion carried by the other of said wings so as to providesubstantially a tf-shaped channel between the wings, a movable latchmember disposed in a recess in said lower wing and pivotally attachedthereto on a transverse axis, said latch member extending up through anopening in said upper wing and terminating in an enlarged head portionpositioned beyond the outer surface of said upper wing, said enlargedhead. portion having a cam portion carried thereby which cooperates withat least a pair of spaced-apart grooves arranged in said outer surface,said grooves arranged transversely of said wing and being of differentdepths, said latch member adapted to be moved so as to position said camportion in either of said grooves whereby the slider wings are spacedapart in either one of two selected positions, biasing means arrangedwith said latch member for urging and maintaining said latch member inposition so that said wings are in their normal spaced operatingposition, and a locking member pivotally connected to said upper winghaving a portion engageable with said enlarged head portion, and alocking projection carried by said locking member which projects intosaid channel through an aperture in said upper wing, said latch memberthrough the action of said biasing means acting on said locking memberfor urging the locking projection into said channel.

9. A slider for slide fasteners, as defined in claim 8, including a pullmember operatively connected to said locking member for manually movingsaid locking member to unlocked position and for actuating said latchmember against the action of said biasing means.

No references cited.

